Tudor strikes back for Surrey

Alex Tudor led the way with a defiant half-century as Surrey tried to find a way back into championship match against Lancashire at The Oval.

If England pick Tudor for next week's First Test against Sri Lanka they will expect him to do most of his best work with the ball.

But he has plenty of batting ability as well - and revealed it again today by making 61 as Surrey turned a miserable overnight score of 106 for seven into 216 all out.

That still left them 104 runs behind Lancashire but, in all, their last three wickets had added 124 with No 11 Jimmy Ormond contributing an unbeaten 35.

The follow-on figure of 171 looked out of range last night. Tudor, though, had other ideas and, despite losing Ian Salisbury and Martin Bicknell, he achieved Surrey's first target by sweeping left-arm spinner Gary Keedy for six.

Neither Tudor nor Bicknell could strike early during Lancashire's second innings. They gave little away, however, and then up stepped Azhar Mahmood to remove Alec Swann, Mark Chilton and David Byas in the space of 25 balls before the visitors' advantage had reached 170. Lancs 320 and 67-3 (2.4 ovs) Surrey 216 (64.3 ovs)

Hampshire

Four wickets from Dmitri Mascarenas helped hosts Hampshire skittle out Kent for just 118 at the Rose Bowl.

Former England man Alan Mullally weighed in with two dismissals to put his side in complete control. Hampshire 345 v Kent 118, 20-1 (4ovs)

DIVISION TWO

Essex

Greg Smith took the first five Essex wickets to fall in their second innings at Trent Bridge.

Essex were struggling on 147 for five - a lead of only 64. Smith had earlier held up Essex with an unbeaten 35 in a lastwicket stand of 37. Ronnie Irani was the Essex bowling hero with 6-71. Essex 130 & 147-5 (36 ovs), Notts 213.